Rainfall numbers low for 2012

Rainfall was scarce in Texarkana in 2012.

“It has not been a very good year for rain,” said Matt Hemingway, meterologist with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, La.

As of Dec. 27, Texarkana had received 30.88 inches of rain since Jan.1.

The Christmas Day rain increased December’s total slightly, but the year still will end below average.

Texarkana normally receives 47.92 inches of rain a year, which means a deficit of roughly 17 inches for 2012, Hemingway said.

“We are still in drought conditions, with some cases of extreme drought in areas north of Texarkana,” Hemingway said.

He said weather fronts that moved through the area tracked

south of Texarkana, taking rain with them.

“It seems you guys missed it a lot,” he said.

The total amount of rainfall for 2011 was 30.70 inches, with December being an especially wet month. The Texarkana area received more than 5 inches of rain in December 2011. The average amount for December is about 5 inches, according to the NWS.

December was the only month in 2011 when above-normal rainfall was recorded.

There were 30.69 inches of rain recorded for 2011.

Rain amount was similar in 2010, with the Texarkana receiving only about 29 inches.

Temperature-wise, 2012 has been more average than 2011.

The lack of rain during summer 2012 kept the ground warm, but the season did not touch the summer of 2011, which saw an almost unprecedented number of days of 100degree weather.